LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and establishes community college districts throughout the state that operate community colleges and provide instruction to students. Existing law requires community college districts to charge each student an enrollment fee of $46 per unit per semester. Existing law requires this fee to be waived for students meeting prescribed requirements.

This bill would additionally require the board of governors to waive the fee, for enrollment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses only, for a student who graduated from a California high school after attending a California high school for at least
2 academic years. The bill would specify that the fee shall be waived only for the student’s enrollment in STEM courses within 4 academic years from the date of his or her high school graduation. To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law, until July 1, 2018, establishes the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot program, under which the California State University is authorized to establish a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot program at 3 campuses to award Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, subject to specified program and enrollment requirements.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the Legislature’s findings and declarations relating to the pilot program.

Digest Key

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The United States is a global leader, in large part, through the genius and hard work of its scientists, engineers, and innovators.

(b) In a world that is becoming increasingly complex, and where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it is more important than ever for California’s youth to be equipped with knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate
evidence, and make sense of information. These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, known as STEM, subjects.

(c) Unfortunately, few students pursue expertise in STEM fields, and few students see these fields as springboards for their careers, because most students do not have access to quality STEM learning opportunities. A student’s race, ZIP Code, or socioeconomic status should never determine his or her STEM knowledge and skills. California has a responsibility to give all students the opportunity to thrive in a modern STEM economy.

(d) Providing free enrollment in STEM courses at California’s community colleges will benefit the entire state and send a message globally that we are committed to providing an educated and competitive workforce.

(e) Technology is pervasive in almost every aspect of daily life, and as the workplace changes, STEM knowledge and skills increase in importance for a variety of workers, not just for mathematicians and scientists.

(f) Making STEM education a priority in California is imperative to the state’s economic future so we must do all that we can to incentivize community college students to take STEM courses whether they are pursuing a certificate to secure employment, an associate’s degree, or credits to transfer to a four-year university.

SEC. 2.

Section 76300.2 is added to the Education Code, to read:

76300.2.

(a) Commencing with the 2018–19 academic year, the board of governors shall waive the fees, for enrollment in STEM courses only, for a student who graduated from a California high school after attending a California high school for at least two academic years.

(b) The waiver shall apply only for the student’s enrollment in STEM courses within four academic years from the date of his or her high school graduation.

(c) For purposes of this section, “STEM courses” are science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses.

(d) This section does not prohibit the student from otherwise being exempted from paying
enrollment fees or receiving a fee waiver to attend a community college.

SEC. 3.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

SECTION 1.Section 89280 of the Education Code is amended to read:

89280.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)California faces an ever-increasing nursing shortage that jeopardizes the health and well-being of the state’s citizens.

(b)Colleges and universities need to expand nursing education programs to prepare more nurses to meet the state’s growing demand for nurses. An estimated state shortage of 47,600 registered nurses is expected by 2010, and by 2020 the shortage is projected to reach 116,600,
according to the Governor’s California Nurse Education Initiative Annual Report, September 2006.

(c)Well-trained nursing faculty and practitioners are critical to the ability to expand nursing programs.

(d)Because of the urgent need to prepare and graduate increased numbers of nurses, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a pilot program that grants the California State University authority to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, as an exception to the Master Plan for Higher Education.